Classroom of the Elite: Standing Firm in Class A — Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Cleaning Up the Mess

Katsuragi Kohei’s typically stern expression gave way to a rare glimmer of opportunism.

It was a simple but highly effective deduction. Even though Class C had burned through their starting points to purchase luxurious vacation facilities, the sudden withdrawal of their leader meant those items were now abandoned. The heavy equipment—especially the large barbecue grills and the wide, sturdy parasols—would be immensely helpful in elevating Class A’s living conditions from mere survival to actual comfort.

“I’ll take a team down there first thing tomorrow morning,” Katsuragi declared, his mind already working through the logistics. “However, we need to be careful. It’s highly probable the other classes will arrive at the exact same conclusion.”

“Relax, Katsuragi,” Kaedehara Tetsu replied, his tone entirely unbothered. He leaned back against the rough stone wall of the cave. “Speed is the only variable that matters. Besides, those items are currently ownerless property. It’s only natural that whoever claims the beach first reaps the rewards.”

Just then, the sound of shifting footsteps echoed from the depths of the cave. A few Class A students emerged from the shadows, having clearly overheard the conversation outside. They looked between Tetsu and Katsuragi with obvious curiosity.

Totsuka Yahiko walked at the front of the group, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “I heard you guys talking about Class C just now. Did something happen while we were resting?”

Katsuragi briefly brought the newly awakened students up to speed, detailing the sudden collapse of Class C’s camp and relaying Tetsu’s proposal to scavenge their abandoned supplies.

The reaction was immediate. In a harsh island environment where every drop of clean water and scrap of food was heavily rationed, the prospect of free luxury goods was intoxicating.

“Count me in for tomorrow morning!” Hashimoto Masayoshi volunteered, a sly grin spreading across his face. “I’ve been dying to see what kind of mess Ryuen’s class left behind anyway.”

“I’ll go too!” another student chimed in.

“Those barbecue grills looked top-tier when we passed by them on the first day. If we can haul them back here, cooking our rations will be a hundred times easier.”

Within minutes, a scavenging team of eight eager students had formed, all drawn by the irresistible allure of picking up high-value items for absolutely nothing.

While the others excitedly discussed the logistics of carrying heavy metal grills through the forest, Yahiko stepped away from the group and approached Tetsu.

“We found another spot,” Yahiko reported, lowering his voice to maintain operational security. “It’s located on the northern edge of the island. Very well hidden.”

“That brings our total to eight bases.” Tetsu nodded slowly, calculating the math in his head.

According to the rules of the special exam, a designated spot could be occupied once every eight hours. With three potential occupation cycles a day, controlling eight bases meant a guaranteed income of twenty-four Class Points every single day. It was a staggering advantage, one that would quietly but decisively crush the competition if maintained.

Tetsu reached out and gave Yahiko a firm, reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Good work. That’s exactly what we needed.”

Yahiko straightened up, visibly pleased by the praise. “I’ll take a couple of guys and go reoccupy those spots right now.”

Glancing at his digital watch, Tetsu noted the time. They had a little less than two hours before the mandatory eight o’clock evening roll call. “Move quickly. Don’t take any unnecessary risks in the dark, and make sure you’re back before the instructor arrives.”

The two boys assigned to assist Yahiko immediately began prepping their gear, checking the batteries in their flashlights and looping sturdy climbing ropes over their shoulders. Once their equipment was secured, the trio slipped out of the cave, their silhouettes quickly swallowed by the dense, encroaching night.

The camp settled back into a comfortable quiet.

Just as the digital clocks ticked toward eight, the crunch of familiar footsteps sounded near the cave entrance. Yahiko and his two companions emerged from the tree line, breathing heavily but wearing identical expressions of satisfaction.

“Everything is locked down,” Yahiko said, accepting a portion of reserved rations from a classmate. He sat down heavily on a rock. “All eight bases have been successfully reoccupied. I’ve already calculated the rotation schedule for tomorrow morning’s shift.”

Almost the very second he finished his sentence, a sharp, authoritative voice cut through the ambient noise of the camp.

“Class A. Assemble for roll call.”

The students immediately set aside their food and filed out of the cave, forming neat lines in the clearing. The evening roll call had long since become a mundane routine, and everyone moved with practiced efficiency.

Mashima Tomoya stood near the entrance, his posture rigid. He clicked on a heavy-duty flashlight, sweeping the harsh white beam across the faces of his students, cross-referencing them with the official roster in his hand.

The process was seamless. All thirty-nine participating students were present and accounted for.

Mashima made a final checkmark on his clipboard and nodded. “Satisfactory. Ensure you get adequate rest tonight.” He clicked off the flashlight, turned on his heel, and vanished back into the dark forest.

With the official business concluded, the students retreated into the warmth of the cave to finish their interrupted dinner. The night passed without incident. While there were no dramatic clashes or thrilling confrontations, the quiet, methodical accumulation of territory was slowly making Class A’s victory an absolute certainty.

The next morning, pale sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting long, fractured shadows across the cave floor. The distant, rhythmic crashing of ocean waves mixed with the sharp calls of tropical birds.

Mashima appeared precisely on schedule for the morning roll call. The students shuffled out of the cave, many still stifling yawns and rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

Once Mashima departed, Tetsu turned to his classmates. “Alright. Let’s get moving.”

The designated scavenging team quickly gathered their gear, equipping themselves with empty backpacks, canvas bags, and thick lengths of rope for securing the heavier items. They left the rocky terrain of the cave behind, handling the winding dirt path that led toward the coastline.

As they pushed through the final line of dense bushes, the expansive white beach revealed itself.

The sight was a stark, almost comical contrast to the pristine luxury they had witnessed two days prior. The colorful, neatly arranged parasols were now strewn haphazardly across the sand, several having been dragged toward the water line by the overnight sea breeze. Expensive beach chairs lay overturned or half-buried in the sand. The premium barbecue grills remained in their original spots, but the surrounding area was an absolute disaster zone of discarded food wrappers, empty bottles, and scattered trash.

“Looks like they ran with their tails between their legs,” Hashimoto remarked, casually kicking an empty soda can. It clattered sharply against a rock. “They didn’t even bother with basic sanitation before bailing.”

“When you have zero points left to lose, the threat of a penalty for littering loses its bite,” Tetsu noted, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage.

Despite the chaotic mess, the actual hardware was in perfect condition. It just required a little manual labor to clean up.

The Class A students immediately set to work. They fanned out across the sand, righting the overturned chairs, folding the parasols, and inspecting the grills to ensure no parts were missing.

Just as Hashimoto was tying a bundle of parasols together, the distinct sound of rustling foliage came from the edge of the forest.

A new group emerged onto the sand. Leading them was Ichinose Honami, her signature long pink hair catching the morning light. Four Class B students trailed closely behind her. As they took in the sight of the beach—and the Class A students already packing up the best equipment—their expressions simultaneously dropped into identical masks of surprise and dismay.

It was obvious they had come with the exact same scavenging plan.

Realizing she had been beaten to the punch, a flash of genuine embarrassment colored Ichinose’s cheeks. “Ah… it seems we’re a bit late.”

Her voice carried a heavy note of disappointment. For Class B, who had been carefully rationing their supplies and living frugally to save points, this abandoned equipment represented a massive, missed opportunity. But Ichinose was fundamentally bound by her own strong moral compass; since Class A had arrived first, she would never dream of contesting their claim.

“I apologize for intruding,” Ichinose said, offering a polite, formal bow. “We’ll be on our way.”

She turned to guide her disheartened classmates back into the forest.

“Hold on a second, Ichinose.”

Tetsu’s calm, measured voice stopped her in her tracks. She paused, looking back over her shoulder with a confused blink.

Tetsu gestured casually to the massive pile of salvaged goods. “We can’t possibly carry all of this back to our camp. And frankly, a good portion of it is redundant for our current setup.”

Ichinose turned fully around, her eyes widening slightly as she processed his words.

“If there’s something here your class needs,” Tetsu said, a faint, unreadable smile touching his lips, “feel free to take your pick.”